Carrier support for switch and signal robs



' March 2 1926.

J. c. MOCK CARRIER'SUPPORT FOR SWITCH AND SIGNAL RODS Filed July 20, 1921 J 2 my Patented Mar. 2, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. MOCK, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CARRIER SUPPORT FOR SWITCH AND SIGNAL RODS.

Application filed July 20, 1921. Serial No. 486,089.

To all 10 7210177, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES C. Moon, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Detroit, in the county of lVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carrier Supports for Switch and Signal Rods, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of my specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the means for supporting the carriers of the switch or signal operating elements which are usually in the nature of pipes and the invention has for its object the provision of a construction having the requisite strength and so formed as to take up or resist the thrusts resulting from the movement of the operating elements or pipe lines, regardless of the direction of operation; my invention contemplating a support which is simple in construction and easily put into place, with the respective elements so formed and correlated that easy access to the respective elements may be had and the fastening and adjustment of said elements readily permitted, with certain of the fastening elements so positioned, relative to the elements secured thereby, that vibration or movement of the fastening members will be prevented.

My present invention in certain respects constitutes an improvement upon the car.- rier support disclosed in a previous Patent No. 1,247,310, of November 20th, 1917, issued to me; the present invention, however,

providing a construction readily adapted to.

foundations or piers previously installed and at the same time permitting of extensions or additions from time to time as occasion should require.

The objects and advantages of my invein tion hereinhefore enumerated as well as other advantages inherent in the construction will all be more readily comprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of my complete carrier support put into place and provided with a pair of rod carriers supported thereby.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of one end of my improved support and the lower part of the carriers. 1

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one end of a modified form of my improved carrier support, with the upper portion of the carrier broken away. i

The carrier support is usually intended to be mounted on and secured to a suitable pier or foundation generally constructed of concrete as indicated at 5 and in the particular exemplification of the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, it comprises the pedestals 6, 6 any suitable number whereof may be employed, it being usual to employ a pedestal ateachend of the pier or foundation as shown in Figure 1. Each pedestal 10 disposed transversely of the pedestal or bracket and in spaced relation with each other; the shoulders 9 may be of greater height thanthe shoulders 10 as shown in Figure 1.

The upper intermediate portion of each bracket or pedestal 6 is provided with a curved or outwardly disposed surface, ex-

tending beyond the longitudinal center line of the pedestal, as shown at 11, in order to somewhat overhang the main portion of the pedestal and thereby provide an easily accessible portion for securingthe pedestal or bracket to the pier or foundation 5, which is accomplished through the medium of a bolt or rod 12 provided with a lower bent end adapted to extend into a socket in the side of the pier or foundation as shown at 13 in Figure 1; while the upper end of the bolt or rod 12 is threaded and made to extend through a suitable opening in the laterally disposed surface or portion 11 of the pedestal or bracket; the upper end of the bolt being provided with a suitable nut. as shown whereby thepedestal or bracket can be firmly clamped down ontothe upper surface of the pier or foundation 5 The over? hanging portion 11 is preferably reenforced by suitable webs 14; formed integral therewith and with the main or body portion of the bracket or pedestal as more clearly shown in Figure 2. The ends of the bracket or pedestal 6 is undercut or socketed as shown at 15 and the. ends 8 are reenforced by a vertically disposed web 16 formed in tegral with the foot portion 7 and the ends, thus providing a socket beneath the overhanging ends 8. The ends, at a point intermediate of the shoulders 9 and 10, are provided with openings to receive the bolts 17 the bolt-receiving openings being preferably arranged in closer proximity to the outer shoulder 10 in order to provide sufiicient space to receive the lower portions of anchor bars or members 18 which support the carriers 19.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 each supporting member or anchor bar 18 consists of channel iron, of a'suitable length, preferably formed with a short side or flange as indicated at 20 which isadapted to seat intermediate ofthe shoulders 9 and 10 on the ends of the brackets or pedestals 6 and therefore to come intermediate of the inner shoulder 9 and the boltreceiving opening in the bracket or pedestal through which the bolt 17 passes; while the upper flange or side 21 of the anchor bar 'or supporting member 18 is provided with apertures 22 arranged in predetermined spaced relation commensurate with the spac ing intern'iediate of the carriers 19 which are usually arranged in pairs as shown in Figure 1.

The carriers 19 are of well known con struction, provided with oppositely disposed flanged portions or feet 25 preferably adapted to come into abuttin relation with the adjacent carrier 19, thereby determining the spaced relation between the carriers of each pair. The sides of the carriers are provided with transversely disposed slots as at 24, adapted to receive the short trunnions 25 of the grooved rollers 26 which latterare intended to carry the switch or signal -oper-' ating element shown in the form of a pipe as indicated at 27 in Figure 1, which is intended to be shifted in a lengthwise direction and therefore transversely of the carrier support. The operating element or pipe is maintained in position against y vertical displacement by a second roller 28 journalled in the upper bifurcated end 29 of the carriers; the roller 28 being held against displacement by any suitable means which may be in the nature of cotter-pins as shown at SO. 7

After the pedestals 6 (one usually being employed at each end of the pier or founda tion as show-n in Figure 1) have been secured in place by means of the rods or bolts 12 as previously described, are supporting and shown in Figures 1 and 2.

members or anchor bars 18 are then put into position and extended from one pedestal to the other by placing the short flange or side 20 of the bars downwardly, with the flanges or sides of the channel bar preferably disposed outwardly as shownin Figure 1 so that the intermediate or main body portion of the channel is arranged in abutting relation with the inner shoulders 9 of the brackets or pedestals 6, after which suitable bolts 17, which may be provided with washers as shown if desired, are then passed through the openings 31 in the ends of the brackets or pedestals with the head of the bolt in overlapping relation with the lower short flange or side of the channel while the nut will be disposed beneath the ends of the pedestals and within the undercut portion or socket 15, with the result that the rail or anchor bar will be securely clamped in place when the nut has been firmly screwed onto the bolt. Of course, instead of having the head of the bolt disposed in overlapping relation with the anchor bars, the. insertion of the bolt may be reversed so that the nut comes into clamping relation with the flange of the channel and the head of thebolt will be disposed in thesocket or pocket formed beneath the end of the bracket or pedestal. The socket or pocket in the ends of the brackets or pedestals are so formed, that either the head ofthe bolt, or the nut as the case may be, will be held against rotation by means of the webs 16 and loosening of the clamping means through vibration is thereby prevented, while at the same time the easy screwing up of the nut thereby made possible. 7

Instead of employing the special shape of channel shown in the drawing, namely with a short side or flange at the bottom, it is apparent that any standard channel iron may be employed, as the spacing intermediate of the ribs or shoulders 9 and 10 will permit of such use. After the anchor bars have been put into place, the carriers 19 are then positioned so as to bring the apertures in the base or foot portions thereof into register with the desired openings 22 in the upper side of the anchor bars or supporting members 18 (a supporting member being arranged on each end of the pedestals as shown) so as to receive the bolts 32.

In Figure 3 I show a modified form of the invention in so' far as the supporting members or anchor bars are concerned; the pedestal G and the carriers (the foot portion whereof is shown at 19) are identical with the construction previously described The supporting members'or anchor bars in the construction illustrated in F igure 3 are shown in the nature of a Z-bar 33, namely a bar provided with upperand lower horizontally disposed portions. 34; and 35, respectively,

disposed at opposite sides of the intermediate or main portion of the bar; with the bottom side or portion 35 being preferably narrower than the upperor top side or portion 34 and in that respect being somewhat similar to the short or narrow side 20 of the channel bar shown in Figure 1. The Z-bar is preferably arranged in abutting relation with the inner shoulders 9 of the pedestal so that the short or narrow side 35 at the bottom may be disposed intermediate of the inner shoulders 9 and the openings 31 through the ends of the pedestals for the reception of the bolts 17. As is apparent from the construction shown, the supporting members or anchor bars 33 will be firmly clamped in place when the nuts on the bolts 17 have been screwed into place sufficiently to bring either the nuts or the heads of the bolts into firm overlapping relation with the sides of the Z-bars.

As is evident from the construction shown in both Figures 1 and 3, the head or the nut of the bolt l7 (depending upon the direction of insertion of the bolt) will partially overlap the lower short or narrow side of either the channel 18 or the Z-bar 33 and also rest on the outer shoulder 10 of the pedestal; the shoulder, as previously described, being preferably of less height than the inner.

shoulders 9, with the result that the head or nut of the bolt or washer, if one is employed, will have greater gripping or binding relation with the lower flange of the anchorbar because of the slight angularity or tilt given to the bolt. As previously stated the bolts 17 may be provided with a washer as indicated at 36, if desired, of a diameter sufficient to permit the washer to overlap the outer shoulder 10 and lower horizontally disposed side or portion of the anchor bar.

lVith my improved carrier support, it is evident that the same may be extended longitudinally, that is the supporting members or anchor bars 18, or as the case may be, may be lengthened by securing a similarly formed anchor bar section or extension thereto as shown for example at 18 in Figure 1; the extension being secured in place by means of an angle iron or plate 37 of length sufficient to overlap the uncture between the anchor bars; said angle plate 37 beingpreferably disposed on what may be termed the inner side of the anchor bar as shown in Figure l and provided with apertures adapted to register with the apertures 22 in the upper surface of the anchor bars which receive the bolts 38. This permits the system of carriers to be widened or extended without necessitating a dismantling of the struc ture already installed; while the method of clamping the supporting members or anchor bars to the pedestals permits adjustment of the pipe lines laterally with-out necessitab ing any adjustment or releasing of the pedestal' relative to the pier or foundation. My improved construction also enables adjustment of the carriers to be made from what may be termed the outside of the anchor bars, namely from a point where access to the clamping members or bolts may more readily be had. With my improved structure wherein the pedestals are provided with lower flat bearing surfaces contemplated to at all times extend flush with the sub-structure and wherein the anchor bars extend flush with the upper surfaces of the pedestals and are held in place by independent clamping means, a strong support for the pipe carriers is provided, which is in no way affected or weakened by the clamping force of the means whereby the pedestals are secured to the sub-structure; while at the same time the supporting members or anchor bars may be of any desired height and thereby provide considerable clearance between the carriers and the tops of the pedestals, as the nature ofsecuring the anchor bars in place will in no way limit the height of the channel members or Z-bars constituting the supporting members or anchor bars; the anchor bars transmitting the blows or thrusts, resulting from operation of the pipe lines, to the shoulders on the pedestals regardless of the direction of operation.

I have illustrated what I believe to be the simplest and best exemplifications of my invention and have described the same in terms and expressions which have been employed merely as terms of description and not of limitation, as structural modifications may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is r In a device of the character described, the combination of a pedestal having flat bearing surfaces on the bottom of the base portionand ends extended beyond the base portion and formed to provide sockets therebeneath, the upper surfaces of said ends being each provided with a pair of transversely disposed shoulders arranged in parallel spaced relation, abolt-receiving opening extending through each end at a point intermediate of the shoulders, the intermediate portion of the pedestal having a portion disposed laterally beyond. one side of the ion-- gitudinal axis and adapted to receive a clamping element whereby the pedestal may be secured to a sub-structure, anchor bars provided with laterally disposed upper and lower flanges or surfaces, the lower flanges or surfaces being of less width than the distance between one shoulder of each pair and the bolt-receiving opening, while the upper flanges are provided with a plurality of openings, said bars being adapted to be disposed transversely of the pedestal with the lower fl ng flush ith. the t p urf ce of the pedestal ends and its body portion in abutting relation with one of said shoulders so as to permit longitudinal adjustment of the anchor bars While the pedestal is secured in place, and bolt-andnut clamping means disposed through the openings in the ends of the pedestal, with the lower portion of said means arranged in the sockets beneath the upper surfaces of the ends of the pedestal While the upper portion of'said means is ar- 10 ranged in lapping relation with the other shoulders on the ends of the pedestal and with the lower laterally disposed surfaces of said anchor bars.

JAMES C. MOCK 

